Kochi, Jun 12 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi would

inaugurate the Kochi Metro and make a maiden ride here on June 17. The Prime Minister is visiting Kochi to inaugurate commercial services on the 13-km Aluva ? Palarivattom section of the 27 km Line-1 of the Kochi Metro on June 17. The inauguration of Kochi Metro will be at 11 am by the Prime Minister. "Before the inaugural function, the Prime Minister will board the train from Palariattom and travel till Pathadippalam and come back to Palarivattom along with the dignitaries," a KMRL official said here. Kochi Metro will be the modern urban transport system in the country which breaks new ground in gender justice by opening up employment opportunities to not only hundreds of women, but also the transgender community. Over 600 trained women from the Kudumbasree Mission have been employed to ensure smooth run of the first phase of the metro, to be operated from Aluva to Palarivattom. Kochi Metro Rail Limited has also employed 23 persons from the transgender community for jobs ranging from handling the ticket counter to housekeeping work. The decision to employ transgenders was taken following the new transgender policy adopted by the Kerala government envisaging ending the social stigma towards the group and ensure non-discriminatory treatment. PTI TGB RC

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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